Selwood ready for opener

GEELONG’S healthy list will be reflected at VFL level tomorrow, when the fullstrength Cats meet Werribee at Spring Creek Reserve.

While the AFL side won’t be finalised until later tonight, the Cats could field up to 20 AFLlisted players in the VFL season opener, with Scott Selwood a certain starter.

Selwood got through 70 per cent of the VFL side’s practice match against Footscray last Sunday after overcoming an ankle injury and will join the likes of Jackson Thurlow, Stewart Crameri, Wylie Buzza and George Horlin-Smith to face the Tigers.

Coach Shane O’Bree said Selwood would be given every chance to return to the AFL team as soon as possible.

“Scott is still building up his game time,” O’Bree said.

“We were really happy the way he went last week; it’s just a matter of him building up now and having the confidence that he’s ready to play AFL football.”

Draftee Charlie Constable has also been named on the ball for the Cats, and O’Bree said the 18-year-old had impressed in the pre-season.

“Charlie’s really surprised us the way he’s had an impact at AFL over the JLT Series playing midfield,” O’Bree said.

“At under-18 level he’s played at halfback as well, so we’ll keep developing him in multiple areas and hopefully, over the next month or two, we might see him play an AFL game.”

Geelong recorded a 67point win over Werribee in a pre-season practice match, and while the Cats will line up even stronger tomorrow,

O’Bree said a win wouldn’t necessarily stamp them as a flag contender.

“This stage of the year compared to previous seasons we’ve probably got more players available. It’s probably different to my first two seasons where there have probably been more VFL than AFL.”